Orchids for sale at a farmers’ market

Clockwise from top, small Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi with Bulbophyllum anceps under it, larger Phal. cornu-cervi and two other phals which I believe are Phal. corningiana planted in a coconut husk “pot”.

Saw these orchids for sale at a pasar tani this past weekend. Mostly Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi on tree fern. There was also a clump of Bulbophyllum anceps going for an arm and a leg.

The orchids could have been stripped from felled trees, collected from cleared forests (for crops or large scale plantations) or could have been “actively hunted” for sale, I didn’t ask. I picked up the bulbo and inspected it, it looked healthy and established on its mount.

The seller was a young lady with a no-nonsense business attitude. Smoking a cigarette and speaking in her native tongue, she said “it’s a really expensive one, different from the other orchids, the flowers are very different (B. anceps flowers are indeed beautiful), it’s special…”

Out of curiosity, I asked about the price. The figure quoted made me go “fuhhhhhhhhh!!!” which made her chuckle and say “there, didn’t I tell you it’s expensive?”